This year marks the 65th anniversary since China and Algeria established diplomatic ties, also the 60th anniversary since China's dispatch of medical teams to Algeria.

During a meeting with visiting Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Beijing on Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that over the past 60 years, China has dispatched thousands of medical personnel to Algeria, delivering more than 2.07 million newborn babies, which has set up a monument of China-Algeria friendship.

Support core interests

Thanking the Algerian side for supporting China's just position on issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang and human rights, Xi said China firmly supports the Algerian side in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, supports it in taking the path of development that is in line with its own national conditions, and opposes external interference in its internal affairs.

Congratulating the Algerian side on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council for the period of 2024-2025, he urged both sides to strengthen coordination and cooperation in the UN and other multilateral occasions, safeguard international fairness and justice, and protect the common interests of developing countries.

Tebboune said China is Algeria's most important friend and partner. Thanking China for its long-term valuable support to Algeria, he said Algeria firmly supports China's position on issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang and other core interests, and supports the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative.

At a time when the international landscape is very unbalanced, Algeria is grateful to China for playing a key role in promoting the construction of a more open and inclusive world and the formation of a more just and reasonable international order, he said.

Tebboune also appreciated the constructive role China has played in the fair settlement of regional hotspot issues such as the Palestinian issue and the promotion of regional and world peace and stability and vowed to work closely with China on strategic collaboration in international and regional affairs.

Expand cooperation

Both sides should work together to implement the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and other important cooperation documents, deepen cooperation in traditional areas such as infrastructure, petrochemicals, minerals, agriculture, and expand cooperation in high-tech fields such as aerospace, nuclear energy, information and telecommunications, renewable energy and foster new growth points, Xi said.

China is willing to continue to provide assistance to Algeria, support the economic and social development of Algeria, import more quality products from Algeria, and encourage Chinese enterprises to do business there, he said.

The Algerian president said Algeria is willing to actively participate in the development of the BRI, deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries to help Algeria realize its economic and social development.

The economic and trade exchanges between the two countries have become increasingly close. Bilateral trade amounted to $7.42 billion in 2022, of which imports from Algeria stood at $1.14 billion, a year-on-year increase of 5.8 percent. Algeria is also one of China's largest contracting markets overseas.

China is willing to continue to deepen medical and health cooperation with Algeria, provide government scholarships to Algeria, and promote cooperation in fields such as journalism, tourism, youth, sports and think tanks to strengthen the public opinion foundation of bilateral ties, Xi said.

China is ready to work with Algeria to accelerate the implementation of the outcomes of the first China-Arab States Summit, he added.

The Algerian side is willing to provide a favorable business environment and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in Algeria, as well as more Chinese tourists to travel to Algeria, and is ready to strengthen practical cooperation in various fields and deepen people-to-people exchanges and cooperation with the Chinese side, Tebboune said.

The two sides issued a joint statement after the talks and the two heads of state witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in fields such as agriculture, transportation, trade, aerospace, science and technology.